Herders kill 17 persons, injure others in Benue

• Army arrests suspected B’Haram collaborators in Yobe
• Blocks terrorists’ attempt to enter Borno town

Marauding herdsmen have killed 17 persons and injured several others in Gwer-West Local Council of Benue State.

The Guardian gathered from anonymous sources in the affected communities that the Fulani herders attacked the settlement unprovoked, on Sunday and yesterday, while the residents were asleep.

A survivor of yesterday’s attack, who gave her name as Mrs. Felicia Anor, told The Guardian on phone that the attackers came through Akpachi in Oturkpo Local Council and lunched attack on Tse Angbeghe about 5 am, killing 15 people, injuring 26.

She added that they also razed many houses.

On the Sunday night’s attack, the invaders had ambushed Naka–Nagi–Agagbe road killing two people on motorcycle.

This provoked the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Gwer-West chapter to embark on a peaceful protest in Naka town.

Confirming the attacks, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State Command, Catherine Anene, said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area told her of the attack.

BARELY two days after the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, changed the name of Operation Lafiya Dole to Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), residents have been providing information to the military to fight terrorism in North East.

Army spokesman, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, stated in Damaturu on Monday: “Our OPHK is mobilising critical stakeholders in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists. Many residents in various communities have started providing us with useful information on the modus operandi of Boko Haram insurgents. This led to the arrest of some Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) supporters and collaborators in a tactical operation in Yobe.”

He said the troops, led by the Acting Commander of 154 Task Force, Maj. Daniel Chiwar, arrested some of the suspects at Bulamari hide-out, near Ngamdu areas of the state.

Items recovered from the suspected collaborators include jerry cans of petroleum products, he added.

MEANWHILE, the troops have thwarted terrorists’ attempt to infiltrate Rann town, the capital of Kala Balge Local Council, Borno State.

The terrorists, in their numbers, attempted to disrupt the peace in the border town, but were met with stiff resistance. Troops in the area reportedly engaged them in a fierce firefight, which lasted about an hour.

Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, disclosed yesterday in Abuja that the terrorists withdrew in disarray with a large number of casualties, leaving behind several weapons and ammunition, including anti-aircraft gun barrel, AK-47 rifle, hand-held communication equipment and ammunition.